Method and means for laying waterproof coverings



July 31,1934. C c 1,968,281

METHOD AND MEANS FOR LAYING WATERPROOF COVERINGS Filed Nov. 6, 1930INVENTOR Dar/w (I C/ILE ATTORN EY Patented July 31, 1934 METHOD ANDMEANS ron LAYING WATERPROOF COVERINGS I Dutro C. Cale, San Francisco,Calif., assignor to Certain-Teed Products Corporation, New Iork, N. Y.,a corporation of Maryland Application November 6, 1930; Serial No.493,785

4 Claims. (Cl. 108-7) This invention relates to methods and means forapplying weatherproof coverings and particularly to methods and meansfor applying adhesives for securing-the said coverings in po- 5 sitionand rendering them waterproof.

It has heretofore been the practice in applying covering materialsinsheets and sometimes in the form of units such as artificial shinglesor shingle-simulating strips to Ufasten such ,lo sheets or units by theapplication of an adhesive 1 to the surfaces to be held together, bymeans of a mop or brush or a trowel or similar instrument. Such a methodprovides no adequate control of. the quantity of material applied to Vthe surfaces to be joined and is a costly and laborious method of makingjoints in a waterproof covering.

An example of such former practice has been the ,laying of sheets ofroofing felt laid upon the roof with the lower portions of one sheetoverlapping portions of another. To the overlapped portions 'of thesheet'below has been applied with a mop pitch or asphalt which uponhardening binds the overlapping portion to the sheet below. Such amethodin'addition to be ing expensive necessitates great care to preventexcess material from being applied to the surfaces and fromv runningupon the exposed surfaces of the roof and it has been difiicult or animpossible to carry on the operation in neat and orderly fashion.

In the laying of. individual units such as shingles it has been thepractice to apply. an adhesive cement upon the back of the shingle andplace the coated face upon the roof. It then has been necessary to movethe shingle about slightly in its place to insure proper ad.- hesion.alignment which would produce a pleasing effect on the roof.

In the application of strip shingles such a procedure would be laboriousand costly eventhough done with a brush of suitable size or with atrowel if-cement of sufficient consistency were used. Thepractice hastherefore been to lay the strip with a large overlap so that withoutcementing water will not flow or be driven in under the overlappingportions and over the overlapped edge of the strip beneath. This,however, necessitates the use of a large amount of material and acorrespondingly large cost of laying. A

' In the development of various types of. strips having surfacessimulating groups of shingles as is disclosed in -my co-pendingapplication serial. No. 493,78a'f1led November 6, 1930, ithas This madedifficult or impossible an been found'advantageous from the standpointof saving of material and of labor to lay the strips endwise in rows butwith the ends overlapping, the rows being laid upon the roof inoverlapped arrangement but with the overlapped portions superimposedonly to such a degree as to provide a proper surface upon which to applyan adhesive or cement. This adhesive then serves to hold down upon theoverlapped surface of the strip below the overlapping edge portion ofthe strip above or adjacent thereto endwise. Such constructions forsurfaces exposed to the weather, such as roofs, have been found toberemarkably'advantageous as to cost while providing a-thoroughly artisticand pleas- 76 lng shingle-simulating effect.

In view, however, of the relatively small surface to which thecement isto be applied in such constructions it is desirable tocontrol the amountof adhesive or'cementing material used 25- so as not to apply an excesswhich will over- 'run beyond the edges of the overlapping porthe amountapplied it has been found desirable 3g to use a device which willproduce this result.

One object therefore of the present invention is to-provide a method oflaying units in lapped arrangement on a surface to be covered whih willpermit laying with large exposure and little 95]) lap, thus makingpossible laying at little cost.

Another object of the present invention is to provide av method by whichadhesive may be applied to joints in material used for covering exposedsurfaces. l 95 A further object of the invention is to provide meanswhich will control the amount .of material 'as it issues therefrom bothin amount and in the form of its discharge so that it may be applied inthe quantity and form best suited to 109 the surface to which it is toadhere.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a method of applying thecement by which cement may be discharged from a container by overlappingsheets of weatherproof material or to the lap joints of units such asroofing strips or other units used to simulate shingles on roofs or onsides of buildings or to simulate brickwork or other constructions. Suchconstructions are usually built up of a plurality of sheets or of units,such as individual shingles or shinglesimulating strips or stripssimulating brickwork, with the lower portion of the sheet or unitoverlapping the upper portion of the sheet or unit just below upon theroof or wall. It is a purpose of the present invention to provide amethod and means for applying'to such relatively limited overlappedareas the cement in the form of a strand or cord or in some cases as aribbon, applied preferably lengthwise of said area and of sufficientwidth and thickness that when the overlapping portions of thesuperimposed unit or strip bear upon the overlapped portions of the unitbelow, the cement will spread sufficiently upon these contactingsurfaces to properly cover the same and hold them upon drying inpermanent relationship and also to seal against the a small portion'only of the strips overlapping the upper portions of strips adjacentbelow and having the end edges of such strips in overlappingarrangement, or in similar overlapping construction the presentinvention provides a method according to which thecement may be appliedin the form of a strand of circular cross section,

for example a strand of inch diameter, which may be forced from a nozzleattached to a chame 1 ber such as is provided by the so-called gun typeof tool by pressure upon the cement created by suitable means. Thenozzle when directed at the surface to be covered may be moved over thesurface as the pressure is caused to act upon the cement. A cord orstrand of cement issues from the nozzle and is laid upon the surfacepreferably lengthwise thereof and in such position thereon relative'tothe edge of the overlapping strip or unit that when said overlappingunit is pressed in place the spread of the cement will not proceedbeyond the overlapping edge but will properly cover the surfaces foradhesive action. 5

.In laying strips of the type referred to th lower edge of theoverlapping strip may be lifted and the, cement may be applied with sucha gun type of tool, arranged so that the nozzle may be easily handled,by running the nozzle along the upper edge of the strip while causingthe cement to issue therefrom and, upon reaching the end of thestrip.where such end overlaps the adjacent strip endwise thereof, tocoat upon the end of said adjacent strip asimilar cord or strand ofcement by suitably turning the nozale and the direction of its movement.This method of applying the cement has been found to be rapid and lesscostly than applying it by cementing material so that in the spread'ofthe cement. this materialruns out from under the overlapped portion andbecomes exposed upon the roof resulting in an unsightly appearance aswell as causing waste and imperfect sealing. In

other cases too little cement may be applied and an improper joint made.The controlled amount meager v of cement which may be caused to issuefrom the nozzle by suitable control of pressure and of control deviceson the nozzle or gun itself make possible the advantageous results justdescribed which constitute the features of 'the present invention.

Roofing and roofing strips and other coverings for weather resistanceusually are made with a surface covering of granular mineral materialsuch as slate or ground rock to provide a wearresisting cover and topresent an artistic and pleasing appearance. By usual methods it isdiificult or impossible to apply cement to such granular surfaces inproper amount to avoid excess while insuring the application ofsufiicient cement to produce a secure bond and a waterproof joint.

By the method of the present invention, however, it is possible to applythe cement or other adhesive to the granular cover with equal facilityas to a smooth surface. The amount delivered and the location of itsapplication on the surface being controlled; it is possible to so applyit that it will fill in .the voids around the granular material andspread over the surface to such a width as to give a proper bond to theoverlapping'sheet or strip when itis pressed down upon the cement.

The invention includes therefore the method of applying adhesive insuitable form to joints in roof covering or coverings for surfacesexposed to the weather by the use of a tool provided with a nozzle and adevice for causing the discharge of the adhesive from said nozzle incontrolled amount and in such form that it may be applied by a movementof the nozzle overthe extent of the surface so that when the contactingsurfaces are joined no substantial excess will have been applied andsufiicient material will have adhered to accomplish the binding andcementing.

Other features of the invention will appear from the followingdescription and drawing in which- 1 Figure 1 shows an assembly ofcovering units 'amount of lap, the laps being cemented in place.

In applying the cement according to the present invention theoverlapping portion2 of the strips may be lifted and the cement laidupon the overlapped area 3 thus exposed by means of the gun type of tool4 having a nozzle 5, from which the cement is caused to discharge as astrand orcord 6 upon the area 3. It will be seen that the nozzle 5 maybe'guided across 'the area 3 while the cement issues therefrom and theproper amount of cement may be laid upon the area. 3 by control of theamount issuing in relation to the movement of the nozzle over the area.The strand 6 may be laid in any desired direction, preferably lengthwiseof the area 3 and by suitable direction of the nozzle and its movementmay be turned to cover the portion 7 of the area the exposed area of thecovering by cement forced out from the joint when pressure is applied tothe lapped-area. It will be seen that a 'quick method of layingcoverings in overlapped arrangement is thus provided and one in whichlarge 1 saving in materials is effected while producing a better joint.

The "gun type tool mentioned above consists fundamentally of a nozzleconnected by a suitable conduit'or directly to a chamber in which theadhesive-or cement to be applied is placed. This cement being in plasticor semi-solid state is adapted to flow under moderate pressure. -Variousmeans of creating the pressure upon the chamber may be'adopted, such asthe provision 29 of a plunger fitting the chamber of cylindrical form towhich plunger mechanical force may be applied to push the cement to thenozzle 5 and discharge it therefrom. The pressure utilized for forcingthe cement from the chamber may also; be provided by connectlngto thechamber at a suitable point a source of fluid pressure such as air, soas to cause the cement to flow to and be discharged from the nozzle. Byuse of a suitable hose or other flexible connection between the Q;chamber and the nozzle great flexibility and range of action can beobtained.

A modification of this type of instrument which has been found practicaland useful is a tool provided with a cylindrical chamber -10 at oneendof which is connected the nozzle 11'.

2. movable so as to load the cylinder with the cement. At the oppositeend of the rod may be provided a suitable flange or handle 16 to whichto apply pressure for forcing the rod through the hole in the cap 12 andthereby forcing the plunger 14 toward the opposite end of the cylinder.

While in its broad features such a gun type or tool has beenheretoforeutilized for various uses, its use for applying cement to joints in:iweather-resisting materials laid in overlapping arrangement has notbeen proposed. One fea-- ture which has been found to be of importancein the adaptation of such a gun type of tool for the purpose of makingjoints of the character i-{herein described is that the tool should beso i from this grip'or by action upon the fingers of the handholding'the tool by means balanced as to be easily handled by theoperator with one hand. As explained above it is advantageous to liftthe overlapping edge of the shingle strip or sheet and this may be donewith one 635 i handwhile the other hand and arm are used to handle thetool. The position of a handle or grip 20 for holding the tool thereforeis such in relation to the center of gravity of the. tool that it may beeasily balanced upon the arm while being W-Lheld in one hand. It isfurther desirable that the device 21, connected by mechanism to controlthe movement of the rod 13 and therefore of the plunger 14: to which itis'attached, be operated the device 21 of ,pentine of this grip. If thehand is to be used for forcing the plunger forward the movement is besteffected from this same grip or the position of thecontrol device. Theapplication of the pressure to force the cement from the nozzle and themovement of the nozzle over the surface to which the cement is beingapplied must be under simultaneous control of' the operator andpreferably under the control of his one hand- The application ofadhesive or cement by meansof such a tool utilizing one hand only is afeature of the present invention.

A cement for use according to the above described method and especiallyfor use wit the gun type of tool for applying the same should have thecharacteristics of suitable plasticity to enable it to be readilydischarged from the nozzle of the gun and to flow under pressure uponthe surface to which it is to be applied. It should not'be so fluid inconsistency as to run readily under the action of gravity or to run outfrom under the surfaces to which it is applied before hardening. Itfurther should have the characteristic of'hardening in a. relativelyshort time and to make a'firm bond between the surfaces which are to bejoined. Further, it should have waterproof qualities which will preventthe seepage and flow of water through the joint.

While modifications made within limits toprovide the above indicatedqualities I have found that a cement of a f the composition may becomposition containing approximately by weight saturating asphalt 55%,coating asphalt 9%, tursubstitute 22%, asbestos 14% is preferable forthe 'purposeof the present invention. A cement of this charactertherefore falls within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed as new is-- 1. Method of applying adhesive to thesurfaces to be joined of a covering composed of units in overlappedarrangement which comprises lifting the overlapping portions andapplying to the marginal surfaces only of the overlapped portionsadhesive in the from of a strand of predetermined cross section laidlengthwise of said marginal overlapped portion and of such plasticconsistency as to retain its cross-section until deformed by pressure.

2. Method of applying to a surface a covering composed of a plurality ofunits which comprises laying said units upon said surface with amarginal portion only of each unit overlapped by a portion of anotherunit, lifting the overlapping portions, and applying plastic adhesive tothe overlapped portion byv positively forcing the adhesive through anozzle 'moved over the surface at a rate in relation .to the rate ofdischarge of the adhesive therefrom such that the adhesive is laid uponthe overlapped portionlengthwise thereof as a single continuous strandof substantially uniform cross-section, said adhesive being of suchconsistency as to retain its strand form until flattened by pressure,said cross section being such with respect to the amount of overlap ofthe units that when the overlapping units arev firmed in. place saidstrand flattens and spreads substantially to cover the overlappedportions without excess.

3-. Method of applying a weather-resisting covering'to a surface exposedto the weather which comprises laying units said covering placedlengthwise in courses and. with one lengthwise edge portion of' eachstrip overlapping the lengthwise marginal portion only in the form ofstrips of of a strip in an adjacent course and with one end of eachstrip overlapping an end margin of the strip adjacent in the course,lifting the overlapping portions, applying plastic adhesive to themarginal portions and margins of the adjacent strips under saidoverlapping edge portions and ends, and laying the overlapping edgeportions and ends in adhering contact upon said marginal portions andmargins, said adhesive having such a consistency as to retain its formuntil deformed by pressure and being appliedin a strand continuous underthe overlapping lengthwise edge and the end of each strip of such sizeas to provide an amount of adhesive which will flatten and spreadlaterally of the strand substantially only to the overlapping edges whensaid overlapping portions and ends are pressed into adhering contactrespectively with said overlapped marginal portion and margins.

4. Method of laying a surface covering which comprises laying strips ofcovering material in overlapping courses with the edge of one courseoverlapping only upon a relatively narrow mapginal portion of anadjacent course so as to expose a relatively large portion of eachcourse, lifting the overlapping edge of a course to expose theoverlapped marginal portion of an adjacent course, applying cement tosaid overlapped marginal portion, again laying the overlapping edge ofsaid first course upon the cement applied to said overlapped marginalportion, and pressing said overlapping marginal portion to cause saidcement to bind said overlapping portion to said overlapped portion, saidcement as applied being in the form of a strand laid lengthwise of saidoverlapped marginal portion and of such predetermined cross section aslaid as not to cover said marginal portion and of such plasticconsistency that said strand retains its strand form until flattened bypressure thereon and when said overlapping edge is firmly pressedthereon the strand will flatten and spread to cover the overlappedmarginal portion but substantially without excess exuding from the jointupon the exposed portion of said adjacent course.

DUTRO C. GALE.

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